Protocol design often gets caught in a feature-bloat trap. Developers keep adding layers, new mechanisms, and complexity—thinking it makes the system more capable. What it actually does is multiply the attack surface and strain the trust model.

Less is more in blockchain architecture. A lean, well-crafted protocol withstands scrutiny better than a feature-rich one packed with edge cases and interdependencies. Every line of code you add is another potential vulnerability. Every mechanism compounds the assumptions users have to make.

The strongest protocols aren't the ones that do everything. They're the ones that do the essentials cleanly. That's worth remembering as layer-one networks and layer-two solutions keep evolving.